SANAM is almost emblematic of Beirut’s vibrant DIY scene and has become known for bringing Arabic folklore into dialogue with experimental musical genres. Come join us as we dive into the hypnotic soundscapes of SANAM!

Avant-rock, psych, kraut, electronic, goth, jazz, and improv intertwined with traditional Egyptian song and modern Arabic poetry – that’s the marvelous hotchpotch that awaits you at a SANAM concert. The sextet emerged from Beirut’s vibrant DIY scene during a tumultuous period in Lebanon’s history. Their story began in 2021 at Irtijal, a music festival in Beirut, where the group was invited to perform with Hans Joachim Irmler of the legendary German krautrock band Faust. They later recorded their debut album ‘Aykathani Malakon ‘صنم – أيقظني ملاكٌ, which was praised for exactly what SANAM has since become known for: bringing Arabic folklore into conversation with experimental music genres.

Musically, the members of SANAM come from diverse backgrounds and have ties to other influential Lebanese bands such as Kinematik, Postcards, Al Rahel al Kabir, and Oviid. The band consists of Sandy Chamoun on vocals, Antonio Hajj on bass, Farah Kaddour on the string instrument buzuq, Anthony Sahyoun on guitar and synth, Pascal Semerdjian on drums, and Marwan Tohme on guitar. Since their debut, SANAM have released two more records – a live recording from Café OTO in London and ‘Sametou Sawtan’ in September 2025. In recent years, they’ve also appeared at festivals such as Le Guess Who in the Netherlands, Feeërieën in Belgium, and Roskilde Festival in 2025. Come along and immerse yourself in SANAM’s alchemical Arabic folklore!